Can I Spread H1N1 Even Though I've Had the Vaccine?

We know that the H1N1 (swine) flu is highly contagious. We know how it is spread from one infected person to another. Can a person get the swine flu from another person who is exposed but doesn't have symptoms yet? Can a person who has had the vaccine become infected with H1N1, never get the virus, but still pass it on to someone who has not had the vaccine?

Can I Spread H1N1 Even Though I've had the Vaccine?

It is possible to spread the swine flu virus even if you are vaccinated. The flu virus attaches itself to the inside of your nose, mouth and throat, and multiplies. If you've had the vaccine then your immune system should recognize the virus and attack it before you get any symptoms.

I received the H1N1 vaccine in early October. I was exposed to a positive patient who was on a ventilator. Because the ventilator is a closed circuit, the patient wasn't spreading the virus by breathing or coughing. Unfortunately we needed to disconnect the machine briefly in order to move our patient and the machine was never turned off.

The tubing attached to the ventilator blew air into my face. That tubing was contaminated with the patient's flu virus. I was wearing an R95 mask but nothing can protect a person from such a direct blast. I may not get the swine flu but I needed to know if I could pass it on to other people who were not vaccinated yet.

In the short period of time between when the virus is multiplying and when the immune system kicks in to kill the virus, a person can transmit the virus to other people.

This is also true of the nasal H1N1 vaccine. The nasal vaccine is a weakened virus that should not infect a person unless their immunity is compromised. People who live with or are around anyone whose immune system is weakened is advised not to get the nasal vaccine.

How Long is a Person Contagious?

An H1N1 infected person is contagious from at least one day before the onset of symptoms to up to seven days after symptoms start. Again, it all has to do with how rapidly the virus multiplies. As soon as it multiplies any minor cough or sneeze will spread the virus. Even touching your nose and then shaking hands can spread the swine flu.

So, yes, you can pass the virus onto someone else before you even know that you are infected.

Yes, hand washing does help to prevent the spread of the flu virus. Also, you should be diligent about not touching your nose and covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Incubation Period for H1N1

The CDC reports that the incubation period of the flu is from 2-7 days. This means that a person can get sick within seven days of being exposed to the H1N1 virus.

My five year old came down with flu symptoms less than forty-eight hours after my exposure to H1N1. Did I spread the virus to him? It is possible but it is just as possible that he picked it up at school or someplace else. My exposure to the H1N1 virus was four days ago and I do not have any flu symptoms.

Sources:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33731861/ns/health-cold_and_flu/

http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm